10 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[January, 
It is assumed by some that the Patrons of Husbandry 
are necessarily violent partisans. Can any one im¬ 
agine the abruptly courteous and hospitable farmer 
of the West as a violent partisan, determined on a nar¬ 
row-minded course toward any particular class? The 
man who believes so thoroughly in his Western soil, and 
who is always glorying over his big corn and the rapid 
development of the country, can not be, in the nature of 
things, such a man as he is often painted by writers who 
associate so many unheard of things with the name 
“ Granger.” 
The farmers of the West are, as they have been, open- 
hearted, generous ; in the main contented. They nursed 
a special interest beyond its natural growth, and were 
surprised to see this interest turn against them. Indig¬ 
nation followed naturally, and discussion caused them to 
look about for a remedy. They found interests combined 
against them, and they found it necessary to combine ill 
their own interest. But before this combination that 
made them a power had taken place, the order known as 
Patrons of Husbandry was at work in its own special 
iield. It now became the basis of combination, and 
afforded no very great opportunities for display of ill- 
nature. It appealed to the farmer with a touch of ideal¬ 
ism in his nature rather than to the prosy, discontented 
croaker. It became strong with the intelligent and pro¬ 
gressive rather than with the stubborn, old fogyish, and 
non-reading classes. In short, the organization made a 
direct appeal to all the better classes of farmers not con¬ 
scientiously opposed to secret societies, and formed into 
au active body the good elements in rural society. 
The sentiment of the order is generous, and there is 
nothing to suggest the harboring of a policy that could 
grow into a violent one. Although it has been dragged 
into the discussion of puzzling questions, its general at¬ 
titude has been consistent, and it has encouraged the 
growth of a healthy sentiment among farmers. Under 
the cover of the organization, new combinations of extra¬ 
ordinary strength have been formed. These are not the 
consequences of the working of a resentful spirit, but are 
the first organized attempts to remedy a great evil; the 
first general evidence of a common business shrewdness 
on I he part of Western farmers. 
A desire to meet a wrong face to face and make it right, 
and the ability to protect self, do not make violent parti¬ 
sans. The truth is, the Western farmers are just as gen¬ 
erous as Grangers as they are as neighbors or entertainers 
of new-comers, and they are no readier to become the 
blind instruments of designing men than before. 
It has pleased some people to make something of a 
bugbear of the Grange movement, and persons really in 
sympathy with it as a matter of principle, have turned 
away and hesitated to investigate. That the present status 
is promising, all must admit. That there must be a strong 
inward growth in the future to make the order satisfying, 
its warmest friends do not deny. In many cases there is 
a shallowness in the forms that annoys the thoughtful. 
In other cases there is too much of what we denominate 
a “gushing element,” to satisfy the earnest business 
man. There is possibly too much machinery of the sim¬ 
ply ornamental kind to wear well. But none of these are 
serious objections. If the order is to have a future it 
will have a better future in this respect, and will depart 
from whatever experience has demonstrated of question¬ 
able utility. The growth of the order was not as rapid 
from the first as many people imagine. The rapid growth 
did not commence until the organization had been on 
trial some years. The necessity for thorough organiza¬ 
tion brought its machinery into use, and the order at 
once became popular as no other order had ever been 
among farmers. 
Seen from a distance the ground occupied by the 
Grangers suggests contention, aggressive lines, and gen¬ 
eral confusion. Seen from the place of operations there 
is nothing of this. We see simply farmers striving after 
a better social life, like other men; seeking a higher 
standard of education and seeking to make their business 
as profitable as possible. All these objects are com¬ 
mendable, and when we consider their attitude on the 
railroad question, we must take the order as an order, 
not select certain irate and thoughtless men as represent¬ 
atives. Farmers stand committed to war against monop¬ 
olies, and they have conducted an aggressive campaign 
on their own plan. The great majority of farmers realize 
the advantage of railroads, and have familiarized them¬ 
selves with expenses and with difficulties in the way of 
successful management. They made demands that were 
treated with contempt. Railroad companies resented 
the making of any demand as an impertinence, and this 
policy precipitated a straggle which can not end to their 
advantage. It is often declared that the farmers have 
been hasty, resentful, and short-sighted. But in this re¬ 
spect their conduct will stand comparison with that of 
corporations directed by wise heads and financiers who 
have indulged in no small amount of railroad policy. In 
the present conflict with the farmers will the present 
policy of the railroads win? We answef no. Because 
their interest is, in this case, identical with that of the 
farmers. Many of the roads want farmers on their lands, 
want producers along their lines, want the country de¬ 
veloped by a policy that encourages rather than dis¬ 
courages farming. Any one act discouraging or per¬ 
secuting farmers, reacts to their disadvantage, and it will 
be simply to the interest of great Western lines to do in 
common what many individual roads must do—make 
reasonable concessions to men who have a lasting in¬ 
terest in the success of onr railroad system. The sooner 
this is done the better, and then will it be discovered 
that the Grangers are not wanton assaulters of any in¬ 
terest, but that they are quiet, good-natured people, seek¬ 
ing to make life pleasant by ordinary and legitimate 
means. X. Y. Z. 
Bee Notes—Advice to Beginners. 
BY M. QUINBY. 
If bees were put into winter quarters in good condition 
but little can be done for them at this time. Yet there is 
often something gained by thinking. Suppose on look¬ 
ing over the bees something is discovered going wrong. 
First be sure it is wrong, and then consider the remedy. 
Will any remedy with which we are acquainted apply in 
the present case ? An important duty in this world is to 
think of consequences. As I do not expect that any 
readers of the Agriculturist have left their bees on their 
summer stands for the winter, it will be unnecessary to 
detail management with reference to that. Winter has 
commenced tiiis season in time to make out a long one. 
If its severity is in proportion to its length wo must ex¬ 
pect the effect on our bees to bo serious, unless extra 
pains are taken. Ileed what was said last month. 
3 am in favor of urging another class in onr community 
to engage in bee-keeping. I mean the ladies. It has 
been recently demonstrated that they have the ability to 
do many things heretofore thought inexpedient, if even 
it were possible. Many have the strength, and many 
that have not have the skill to direct in their manage¬ 
ment, as is abundantly proved. Some of them lack the 
courage to begin and patience to learn how, and boldness 
to brave the sting. Most minds require considerable 
discipline to surmount these obstacles. For a fine lady 
to receive a sting is to be dreaded, yet the smart is no 
more in a fair face than in firmer flesh. Let us endeavor 
to learn all we can of the subject, and how stings may be 
avoided, as well as how they interfere with the business. 
BEE STINGS. 
The fear of stings is one of the greatest obstacles in 
the way of successful bee-keeping. I have had patent 
hive men visit me to exhibit their hive. I am apt to 
make up my mind as to the value of his hive by go¬ 
ing with the man among the bees. If he wants pro¬ 
tection for his hands as well as face, cr boasts that bees 
never 6tiug him and then dodges on hearing a bee flying 
near, or if one approaches, seemingly disposed to make 
his acquaintance, he makes a strike with his flat hand or 
whisp of grass to drive it away, or if his quick motion 
attracts still others, and he leaves defeated whether 
stung or otherwise, I am apt to think that a hive of his 
constructing lacks some essential points, because he has 
not yet become acquainted with bees well enough to 
know what is wanted in a hive. If he has some valuable 
contrivance it is. often purloined from some one else ; 
and it is generally the case when looking at his hive that 
the only thing new about it is an idea taken from some 
good hive so changed as to make it worse. But when a 
man accompanies me into the yard and manifests no fear 
of stings, and is willing or even anxious to go right into 
the hive, I predict that he is a successful bee-keeper, or 
will become one if he gives his attention to it. Mr. 
Langstroth on his first visit to me showed more boldness 
among bees and avoided stings better than any man I 
ever met. And where is the man better acquainted with 
them than he is. The fear of a sting never deterred him 
from any point he wished to investigate. 
There are many ways to avoid the greater number of 
stings, as is abundantly proved. But first we must try 
and understand under what circumstances bees are not 
disposed to sting ; also when they are disposed to do it. 
This learned, we have taken one step—an important one 
—towards successful bee-keeping. We all know that 
bees will not leave the hive on a cold frosty morning 
when undisturbed and make an attack. Again, it is 
known by many that a bee away from home never stings 
unless first made fast. When in the fields, gathering 
from the clover blossom, getting drink from water spilled 
near the well or spring, sipping from ditch or drains, 
they always pay strict attention to their own business 
and never sting if not caught fast. How few understand 
this. Tho training of nine-tenths of the community has 
been such as to make them think that a bee is angry and 
disposed to sting at all times and on all occasions when 
ever there is an object at hand. Having witnessed them 
quietly at work gathering stores from a thousand fields, 
sipping water from a thousand rills, or sipping juices 
from the punctured grape or apple, or getting sweets from 
the sugar barrel in grocery or pantry without molesting 
any one does not remove the association of bees and stings. 
These persons suffer more in imagination than they do 
from the real thing itself. Generally more complaint is 
made by those that have never been attacked than by 
those who are stung most. One attack that proves 
serious is reported a thousand times, while others are 
not mentioned. The child can be taught to fear the 
imaginary hobgoblin as soon as it is dark. The timid 
are taught on the same principle regarding bees. 
I shall not pretend that bees do not or will not sting 
on sufficient provocation. Means of defence were given 
them no doubt for a wise purpose. It has been so ar¬ 
ranged by the Creator that stores gathered for their own 
use should be shared by man. Man, taking this fot 
granted, in ignorance of their real nature, has attempted 
to obtain it by brute force alone, regardless of the effect 
on their disposition, and for centuries succeeded only 
by taking life at the same time. We are now enabled to 
divide the results of their labor without opposition, and 
justice is a little nearer done. We have ascertained that 
a sudden jar awakens vigilance. They seem to under¬ 
stand that it would dislodge their combs and ruin their 
home if continued. Anger is aroused, and if the colony 
is strong and well supplied many of them come to the 
outside to see what is the matter. A quick motion made 
by pounding or striking is at once perceived, and it in¬ 
duces an attack. How their ideas are communicated is 
somewhat conjectural. When we examine the sting we 
find but a tiny instrument to inflict pain—a bee could not 
wield a powerful one; but to make its effect powerful tho 
Creator has added a subtle poison, secreted in a little re¬ 
ceptacle at its base, and when used, if it only penetrates 
the cuticle, some barbs at the point hold it there more 
firmly than any muscles hold it to the bee. It is usually 
left in the flesh until sufficient venom is transmitted to 
cause acute pain. If not left there is scarcely any pain 
felt. The poison that is set afloat in the air awakens the 
attention of the whole apiary. Any moving object, es- 
especially one with a quick motion, is attacked. Every 
sting inflicted sets afloat more of the poison, and the 
disturbance becomes more general. This seems to be 
the kind of language understood by the bee. The ex¬ 
halations of some persons when among them seem so 
near like that given out by the poison that they do not 
appear to perceive the difference, and act accordingly. 
Now, without endeavoring to show further that this is 
language, we act as if it were, and set about “ confound¬ 
ing” it. Smoke will do it effectually. Most substances 
while being consumed by fire will furnish the material. 
Smoke made of tobacco was once thought by a few to do 
it best; but subsequent experience shows other things 
better and cheaper. Linen or cotton rags, sawdust, paper 
rolled up so that it will burn without blazing, rotten or 
decayed wood made very dry is probably the least trouble. 
Wood that is solid or hard when green is better than the 
softer kinds. I do not discover much difference in the 
variety ; hickory, maple, or apple-tree are good. Let it 
be decayed so that it will just hold its shape when sawed 
or split into sticks an inch or more square. An improved 
method of app’ying this smoke will be given at some 
future time. Set one end on fire, and if dry it will burn 
without a blaze. A few pieces will smoke for hours. If 
the bees are disturbed, and their poison sent out in the 
air, this smoke mingled with it neutralizes or changes 
its effects. The smoke of tobacco subdues even better 
for the time being, but something remains unpleasant 
to them—makes them cross ; while the milder smoke 
seems to soothe as well as disarm, and the disturbance 
is not remembered. 
Bees collect a substance called bee-glue or propolis, 
with which they seal up all crevices. Any opening or 
hole not large enough for a bee to pass is filled with it. 
Boxes are sealed fast, frames glued together, hives held 
to the bottom board, and top to movable comb hives 
fastened by it. In a warm atmosphere it is soft, tena¬ 
cious ; in a cool one hard and brittle. Now anything 
fastened by this substance can not be moved in a cool 
morning without a jar. The more there is of it the 
greater the snap, and bees unaccustomed to such disturb¬ 
ance rush out of the cluster or entrance and immediately 
there is poison in the air. Now, if we have the smoking 
wood at hand, and the smoke is blown directly upon 
them they at once return. Others may take their places, 
and if they too are disposed to resist they will throw up 
the abdomen so that it will not touch the next one, and 
press out around the sting a tiny drop of clear liquid 
poison so that it may be seen. All that appear and show 
this should have a portion of the smoke, which may be 
used at intervals as they appear. If all unnecessary jar¬ 
ring is avoided they are soon quieted. In summer, in 
the middle of the day when the sun shines, this propolis 
Is pliable, and most of the manipulations can be per- 
